Population: In recent decades, up to 120-130 pairs have nested in Kazakhstan. According to preliminary estimates, the world population is 28.2-58.4 thousand mature individuals.
Status. A rare and endangered species. Category II. A rare bird, with dwindling numbers.
Distribution. In the first half of the twentieth century, it was common in many reservoirs of Kazakhstan, but over the past 30-40 years it has ceased to occur in a number of places. In the 80-90s of the twentieth century, it nested in the Kazakh part of the Volga River delta, on Kushum (Volga-Ural interfluve), in the floodplain of the Ural River, on lakes of the Kostanay region, in the Syrdarya valley, in the Balkash-Alakol depression and in the east of the republic (lake. Zhaysan, R. Cherny Irtysh, Lake Markakol, Pavlodar Irtysh region).
